San Francisco is the most expensive U.S. city in terms of housing, as well as one of the most expensive to visit. Its famed food scene comes with a price tag. The good news is that while you’re going to pay quite a bit for your average meal, upgrading to a truly memorable meal isn’t…
Category: USA
Flour and Water: A culinary bucket list experience in SFO
Ever tried a pasta tasting menu? Neither had I, before I tried the summer pasta tasting menu with wine pairing at San Francisco’s Flour and Water. Not your typical Italian joint, Flour and Water’s exquisite menus for omnivores and vegetarians alike. The experience is worth the investment. Chef Thomas McNaughton wows patrons with regularly changing…
Meriwether’s: Portland, Oregon’s original farm-to-table restaurant
Taste the farm without leaving Portland’s city limits at Meriwether’s, Portland’s first – and still fabulous – true farm to table restaurant. The farm-to-table concept is no longer just a hot trend in the food world. It’s now so well-integrated into the mainstream restaurant industry that it almost seems commonplace. Yet Meriwether’s literally brought the…
KEIKO À NOB HILL: Powerhouse Michelin starred Japanese cuisine served humbly in San Francisco
Regal but without ego or fanfare, Chef Keiko and her impeccable staff create a spectacular dining experience that is more than worthy of her Michelin star. While one’s credit card balance will definitely take a hit, I found it to be every foodie’s dream and worth the expenditure. KEIKO À Nob Hill is one of…
Gloria Ferrer: California sparkling house with Spanish Catalonian flair
Sample some French-style, Spanish-influenced sparkling wine (yep, that’s a thing!) made in Sonoma County, California at Gloria Ferrer. Nestled in the cool bayside Carneros region of Sonoma County, the vineyards of Gloria Ferrer are well situated to grow Chardonnay and Pinot noir grapes, the key components of most sparkling wines. Having visited nearby Domaine Carneros…
Lavash: Fine Persian cuisine in San Francisco’s Sunset district
Anyone who knows San Francisco well is prone to complain about San Francisco’s changing food scene. Many of the good restaurants, particularly international cuisine, have been priced out of the city altogether – mostly due to ridiculously high residential and commercial real estate costs. Even celebrity chef-turned TV star Anthony Bourdain lamented in a special…
A tour of Willamette Valley, Oregon’s best wineries
Where in the USA can you go to experience world class wines in a gorgeous setting, among friendly faces, and all without breaking the bank? Oregon’s Willamette Valley! After nearly a decade since my last visit, Oregon’s Willamette Valley has transformed from an up and coming wine producer to a globally recognized producer of complex…
TwoBirds/OneStone: When you want an amazing meal to go with your Napa wine tour
Today, I highlight the newest breakout in Napa’s wine country restaurant scene. Two Birds/OneStone, located on the property of St. Helena’s Freemark Abbey winery, is Japanese-Californian yakitori fusion at its best. A few weeks ago, I was fortunate to experience the Grand Reopening celebration for Freemark Abbey’s renovated winery and new tasting room facilities….
The Lark: Santa Barbara’s trendiest food destination lives up to the hype
A reservation at the hottest spot in Santa Barbara’s Funk Zone, The Lark, is hard to come by. If you’re willing to share a table with 20 other strangers, a walk-in is rewarded with the best new American cuisine in the region. Choosing a restaurant for my only night in Santa Barbara was a tough…
The Funk Zone: Santa Barbara’s Urban Wine Trail, Part 2
Curious about wine – but find wineries to be pretentious? Santa Barbara, CA’s Funk Zone is for you! In our last post, the CD showed you three refined tasting rooms along Santa Barbara, California’s Urban Wine Trail. Today, we’ll switch gears and visit a few of the irreverent, well, funky tasting rooms and a brewery…
The Culinary Diplomat 